Tips A Healthy Lifesytle Is Not Heavy

Tips A Healthy Lifesytle Is Not Heavy

I've never been an athlete. I've never been much interested in sports, ever since I stopped playing touch-football with the boys, when I hit puberty. I've tried tennis. I've tried softball. When did I hit mid-life? I remember when I hit thirty. For some reason I thought my life was over. A time to reflect, gather my thoughts, and pray, at leisure. I have time to walk our little, wooded acre with my little dachshund straining at the leash. I say a little prayer, as I wobble, a little cock-eyed on the chair, and I laugh, at myself, and all the pretensions of my younger life. I take great delight in my life. Friends. Family. A health of the soul. In general, a healthy person doesn't smoke, is at a healthy weight, eats healthy and exercises.

The trick to healthy living is making small changes...taking more steps, adding fruit to your cereal, having an extra glass of water...these are just a few ways you can start living healthy without drastic changes.

Exercise

Even moderate activities like chores, gardening and walking can make a difference.

Just adding a little movement to your life can:

• Improve joint stability
• Increase and improve range of movement
• Help maintain flexibility as you age
• Improve memory in elderly people
• Reduce stress.
• Turn off the TV.
• Walk more. Look for small ways to walk more.

If you find that the bulk of your time is spent sitting, make another list of all the ways you could move more-

getting up each hour to stretch or walk, walk the stairs at work, etc.

Eating Well

Eating a healthy diet is another part of the healthy lifestyle. Not only can a clean diet help with weight

management, it can also improve your health and quality of life as you get older.

• Eat more fruit.
• Switch your salad dressing. If you eat full-fat dressing, switch to something lighter and you'll automatically eat less calories.
• Find more ideas for healthy foods with this Healthy Foods Grocery List.

Creating a healthy lifestyle doesn't have to mean drastic changes. In fact, drastic changes almost always lead to failure.

What is a Healthy Lifestyle?

According to a study by Michigan State University, a healthy lifestyle is defined by four basic criteria:

• Holding weight down
• Eating right
• Exercising

What can be done to help people change?

The most common excuse people make for not trying to have a healthy lifestyle is “a lack of time.”

We have time to work, time to commute, time for our business associates, but very little time to spend on ourselves, people we love, or even random people who deserve our attention.

• Read the health news headlines of the day
• Eat an apple
• Share a healthy recipe
• Check your blood pressure
• Ask a friend to join you for a healthy dinner
• Add a little pepper to your salad
• Take a quick walk
• Skip your late evening grocery store run

Whatever you choose to do, make your day healthier and happier.